The letters W-H-M-I-S stand for “Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.”
WHMIS is Canada’s national hazard communication system for hazardous products in the workplace. The system
addresses hazardous products that are sold in or imported into Canada, and hazardous products that are meant to
be used, handled or stored in Canadian workplaces.
WHMIS applies to suppliers, importers and distributors of hazardous products, and the employers and workers
who use those products. WHMIS gives workers and employers the information they need to work safely.
WHMIS started in Canada in 1988 (WHMIS 1988). In 2015, WHMIS was updated to align with the Globally
Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, or GHS (WHMIS 2015). GHS is an internationally
agreed-upon system, which is part of a broader, worldwide initiative to classify chemicals and to provide
information about their hazards.
WHMIS 2015 has four parts:
- Identification (classification) of hazardous products
- Labels
- Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
- Worker education and training
This guide contains worker-specific information on implementing WHMIS 2015 in the workplace.
